Method for activating a location-based function, a system and a device

Abstract

A method for activating a location-based function, at least one item of position data is determined for the function as a condition for activating the function. A device in a wireless communication network examines at least one property of the network to decide whether positioning of the device (1) is conducted. Likewise, a system may provide a location-based function, for which at least one item of position data is determined as a condition for activating the function. A program in which the method is applied is also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to Finnish Patent Application No. 20030090 filed on Jan. 21, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a method for activating a location-based function, in which at least one item of position data is determined for the function as a condition for activating the function, the device being used in a wireless communication network in which signals are transmitted. The invention also relates to a system comprising determination means for determining a location-based function, in which at least one item of position data is determined for the function as a condition for activating the function, processing means for activating the location-based function in a device, and a wireless communication network comprising at least one transmitter for transmission of signals. Moreover, the invention relates to a device comprising determination means for determining a location-bas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention shows remarkable advantages over solutions of prior art. When the method according to the invention is applied, it is not necessary to perform the positioning as often as in solutions of the prior art, because the criterion for performing the positioning is relatively reliable information based on the fact that the user has indeed moved from a previous location to another location. Thus the total power consumption of the device can be reduced. The reduced need to perform positioning reduces the loading of the processor of the device, wherein more capacity is available for use for the needs of other applications. Furthermore, if the positioning utilized in the device is based on the use of a service that is subject to charge, savings in the positioning costs are attained by means of the method according to the invention. When applied in network-assisted systems, it is also possible to reduce the loading of the network by means of the invention.

[0008]Another advantage attained by means of the method according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention is that the positioning is more reliable because the dependency of the positioning on the network is less significant than in situations where solutions of the prior art are applied. The reason for this is that the positioning is performed primarily in the device itself.

Problems solved by technology

One of the drawbacks in such continuous positioning is for example that it increases the power consumption of the device, which, especially in portable devices, can restrict the availability of positioning and shorten the operating time of the device.

Furthermore, especially the positioning information obtained from the mobile communication system may be subject to charge, wherein positioning may be expensive.

Images